The general awareness of the sustainability challenge and the urgency to act is increasing. However, the actions being taken do not seem to be sufficient, nor the communication about sustainability effective enough, to ensure a sustainable future. For our research, we looked at the work of sustainability practitioners using a scientifically robust framework called the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). The research focuses on the interaction between the sustainability practitioner and the audience when communicating the FSSD. It is guided by its central inquiry, how the practice of storytelling can support sustainability practitioners in their work context. A literature review and a total of 13 interviews with sustainability and storytelling practitioners comprise the basis for this analysis. Based on our findings we map out the current practices of storytelling used by sustainability practitioners in the field and offer recommendations with the intention of enhancing this practice. Our research showed that sustainability practitioners practice and benefit from storytelling throughout their work in various ways. We consider this research with all its limitations as an awareness raiser and invitation to deepen the conversation and the exchange of experience and knowledge around the topic of storytelling for sustainability.

Making a societal transition towards sustainability is a global concern of ever increasing urgency. Succeeding in this mission requires all societal sectors to be on board and contribute. This thesis focuses on the transformation of the corporate sector, namely how Internal Corporate Communication (ICC), i.e. communication between senior management and employees, can be designed to engage employees in working with sustainability. This thesis uses a conceptual model developed for ICC and employee engagement and applies it in the specific context of ICC with regards to sustainability in medium- to large-sized companies in Northern Europe. Through interviewing practitioners working with ICC on sustainability in ‘model’ sustainability companies, the research aims to discern best practices on how to design ICC about sustainability to engage employees. The results show that ICC can be a useful tool when it comes to engaging employees in working with sustainability, and the findings are summarized as guidelines for content creation and methods to use to facilitate engagement creation for sustainability. The discussion elaborates on how these guidelines can be used together with the Strategic Sustainable Development approach to facilitate companies’ journeys towards sustainability.

This study aims to draw attention to a new concept within the tourism industry that integrates citizen science into an ecotourism product. The merge of citizen science and ecotourism shows potential to play a role in strategic sustainable development and to give ecotourism providers a competitive advantage in the market. However, the environmental and social benefits of this concept can only be realized if it is applied correctly. The framework for strategic for strategic sustainable development (FSSD) was used to address the complexity surrounding ecotourism and the use of citizen science. The study used a mixed method research design by conducting exploratory interviews, and then distributing a questionnaire to validate the qualitative findings. Results demonstrate that the merge of citizen science and ecotourism could contribute to sustainability through education, conservation, local community engagement, and the increased environmental awareness of the travellers. Additionally, it demonstrates that the integration of citizen science in an ecotourism product might create business benefits for the ecotourism providers in conjunction with a dynamic learning experience for the consumer. This study makes adaptions to a widely used citizen science toolkit and recommends appropriate changes to the process in order to ensure that it is effective for ecotourism providers while incorporating sustainability throughout the product design phase.

The world is facing energy supply challenges. Rising prices and finite reserves of fossil fuels, combined with necessary reductions in their use in order to mitigate anthropogenic climate change, will dramatically reshape the future energy supply. Among the greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions are the energy systems that power transportation, heating and cooling, and industrial processes. It is imperative that energy planning is sustainable, secure and effectively implemented for local development. The aim of our research is to enhance the planning process that can aid authorities moving towards sustainable local energy systems. Local energy systems refer to the supply, distribution and use of energy within a municipality. In this study, we advocate applying a strategic sustainable development framework based on 'backcasting from principles of sustainability'. We analyzed global, European Union and Swedish energy objectives, as well as the results of a survey of beacon European cities to inform strategic planning guidelines for authorities moving towards sustainable local energy systems. Our research suggests that the strategic sustainable development framework provides structure to inform strategic and critical decision points for planning and implementing local energy systems.

Liquid biofuels are being produced to displace fossil fuels for transportation, with bioethanol and biodiesel being the primary biofuels produced for this purpose in the world today. While there is consensus on the need for a sustainable biofuels industry, there is little consensus on how to proceed to avoid environmental and social degradation with global biofuel production. A literature review of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data, and the generic Strategic Life-Cycle Management (SLCM) and Template for Sustainable Product Development (TSPD) approaches, helped to inform the creation of a specific tool for sustainable industrial biofuels development, called the TSPD for biofuels. Other data collection involved expert and industry dialogue, as well as stakeholder feedback, on the content of the TSPD. Results showed a variety of sustainability challenges and opportunities, the most significant of which concerns agricultural production. Compelling measures for a sustainable biofuels industry include: cooperation among all stakeholders using a systems approach based on strategic sustainable development, sustainable biofuels certification; and government policies to stimulate research into new technologies and feedstocks, as well as to reduce consumption and increase efficiency. / <p>skiingkyle@yahoo.ca, csrlevy@terra.com.br, Kate_maddigan@yahoo.com</p>

As the global sustainability challenge intensifies, food has emerged as a critical issue in sustainable development. Growing food within city limits, or urban agriculture (UA), is one way to help increase access to fresh, local, healthy food for everyone while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts. While UA is increasing on a global scale, it is not always being supported in a strategic manner. This thesis explores the opportunity of how UA can be supported to help move cities towards sustainability. Current UA practices were evaluated based on information from literature and interviews using the five-level framework method. As a way to help provide guidance in strategic planning, the framework for strategic sustainable development (FSSD) was utilized, introducing the concepts of a full-system perspective, a principle-based definition of sustainability, and backcasting. Combining current UA success principles, stakeholder input, and the FSSD, an enhanced planning guide was created as a tool to help cities better plan for UA.

This qualitative action research explores integration of Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) at Inova business incubator (Karlstad, Sweden). Researchers and incubator agreed that planning with sustainability in mind at a very early stage of company development may have important impacts on future business success and societal welfare. The objective was to answer how SSD could be integrated into the processes at Inova and how Inova staff’s and entrepreneurs’ understanding of sustainability demonstrably evolve after exposure to SSD. Apart from general research methods, SSD methods and tools were used with three entrepreneurs and business incubator staff. The Five Level Framework for Planning and Decision-making in complex systems and the Templates for Sustainable Product Development approach were central to the study. Inova staff and entrepreneurs began to develop; an understanding of business’ dependence on and relationship to broader societal and ecological systems; and an ability to use backcasting from the basic socio-ecological principles of sustainability in business planning. In turn they experienced an increased capacity to identify sustainability related business risks and opportunities. A new incubation process integrating SSD was created. Although the outcome is specific to Inova, it is general enough for other assistance organizations to gain insight from. In conclusion, SSD should be integrated as early as possible in the business planning of start up companies. Organizations with a mission of assisting entrepreneurs have an important role to play In further research it is recommended that visionary sustainability leaders are identified and tracked from start up.

Increasing population, finite resources, over-consumption, and unsustainable trends in business contribute to urgent and complex sustainability challenges in society. The intent of this research is to understand the role business can play in moving society toward sustainability, specifically by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses present in the outdoor industry. Evaluation of the outdoor industry using a lens of the FSSD highlights unique opportunities for the outdoor industry in moving society toward sustainability while addressing the complex challenges. Using the advantages of being cooperative and sharing the values of trust and a connection to nature, the outdoor industry has the potential to make a unique shift from the current profit-driven market economy. This thesis examines how the current operations of the industry can be more strategic, efficient, and impactful in moving consumers, business, and society in a transition toward sustainability.

Recreational events gather large numbers of people in concentrated areas for brief periods of time. Effects of these events extend far beyond their spatial and temporal boundaries; a music festival is one such event. This paper asks, “What are some measures that can move music festivals strategically toward sustainability?” A framework for strategic sustainable development based on backcasting from sustainability principles is applied. Research draws on pertinent literature, interviews with festival organizers and an in-depth case study with International Music Concepts. Results indicate that critical flows and management routines upon which music festivals depend contribute to systematic undermining of social and ecological systems. Festival organizers sit at the centre of these flows, and are crucial to changing them. Education to inspire behavioural change of festival organizers and other stakeholders, notably suppliers, audience and artists, appears critical to shifting music festivals toward sustainability. This can be underpinned by building in-house ‘sustainability capacity’ of festival organisations; creating strategic alliances between festival organizers; and scaling up organisational efforts to include lobbying governments for financial and other support to authenticate a high-level commitment to true sustainable development. Music festivals may then leverage their role in society to move society itself toward sustainability. A template and guidebook are presented to facilitate this shift.

Precious and base metal mining projects can serve as a stepping-stone in moving the mining industry towards achieving compliance with a scientific-principled definition of global socio-ecological sustainability. Using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development to assess the current reality of mine project development has resulted in identifying gaps between current best practices and a desired vision of sustainability constrained by science based principles. These gaps provide opportunities for sustainability driven innovation. Evaluation of mining project phases and their impacts on ecological and social systems using the four Sustainability Principles highlight specific opportunities to create value for social, economic and ecologic systems. Companies choosing to develop mining projects using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development can expect to achieve many business benefits, including improved reputation, increased transparency and stakeholder trust. Strengthening these aspects will provide robust support to companies as they manoeuvre to define their role in a sustainable society. This thesis examines how current processes for mining projects can be developed to support a successful transition into a sustainable society.